Day 7 - Around the island in a day

Thursday was our last day with the car. We figured we better see the rest of the island while we had the car. We headed south along the coast, past Maspalomas to Arguineguín. the guide book mentioned a market on Tuesday and Thursday. Oh well, foiled again. The water front is really cute though. They have very tiny beaches.

Driving on, we encountered Puerto Rico. The Lonely Planet guide book for the Canary Islands describes the town as a 'good example of appalling town planning... the original fishing village has all but disappeared under a sea of concrete, with the apartment blocks stacked up like stadium seats against the mountains.' Um. Yep. Totally agree. It is atrocious.

We then headed to Puerto de Mogán. It is said to be the Venice of the Canaries. Well, if they count the canal and bridges sure... nothing else is remotely similar. And the canal... one side of it is a major road. We did see a submarine though, a yellow one. One in the water and one that hasn't seen the water in a very long time.

After the port, we headed north to Mogán in search of lunch at one of the best restaurants on the island. The guide book failed to mention that the restaurant may be closed the entire month of August for vacation. Thwarted but still determined, we drove on.

Before we found food, we found a cactus museum. Cactualdea has a supposed 1,500 species of cactus. We bought corn to feed the animals in the park (ducks, birds of some sort, a peacock, and a donkey).

Still hungry, we drove on. We gave up at 4 and went to a supermarket in San Nicolás de Tolentino, which the book describes as 'the sort of place you only hang around in because the ass has fallen out of your car.' The snacks we had and the seat in front of the church was nice. No complaints here.

Our car's ass in hand, we continued on to our beach destination of Sardina, only stopping at a viewpoint to see the cliff side and ocean. When we pulled up, there was a truck selling snacks and hot drinks but he drove off shortly after. As he drove off, I just kept thinking it would be a nightmare to drive a bus or truck on these roads. And wow, it was windy.

Sardina is at the NW corner of the island. The beach was smallish, sand a bit gray, and the water a bit chilly. You can see through the water though. Not as warm as the water in Maspalomas but very clear! After frolicking in the waves, we drove back to the hotel to crash. Friday... Alan's talk.